Ergonomic forceps tool

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a system and methods for safely and securely gripping osseous-based tissue during allograft processing. One embodiment includes a first forceps half pivotally coupled to a second forceps half, where the first and the second forceps halves combine to form a handle portion and a head portion. The handle portion may define a first longitudinal axis, and the head portion may define a second longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at a varying head angle. The first and the second halves move between an open position in which the first and second forceps halves at the head portion are separated and a closed position in which the first and second forceps halves at the head portion are together. The forceps may also include an open-biasing spring element attached between the first and second forceps halves and a selective locking mechanism. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/450,640, filed Jan. 26, 2017 byDenis M. Meade and Shane Graham for “ERGONOMIC FORCEPS TOOL,” whichpatent application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

An allograft includes bone, tendon, skin, or other types of tissue thatis transplanted from one person to another. Allografts are used in avariety of medical treatments, such as knee replacements, bone grafts,spinal fusions, eye surgery, and skin grafts for the severely burned.Allografts come from voluntarily donated human tissue obtained fromcadaveric donor-derived, living-related, or living-unrelated donors andcan help patients regain mobility, restore function, enjoy a betterquality of life, and even save lives in the case of cardiovasculartissue or skin.

Processing operations for osseous-based allografts often require atechnician to grip an upper end of a human cadaveric femur, or a femoralhead, while exposing the femoral head to a cutting or rotating edge(e.g., a band saw blade, drill press, etc.) for the purpose of removingthe hard outer layer of cortical bone to expose the softer cancellousbone required for an osseous-tissue donation beneath.

Existing hand tools used to prepare and process osseous-based allograftsare not designed to safely grip the non-uniform, asymmetrical contour ofhuman femoral heads and lack a configuration that allows users ofvarying builds, sizes and strengths to adequately grasp, grip, andmanipulate osseous tissue. Moreover, existing tools align the user'shand with the osseous tissue being gripped, putting the user's hand andfingers in the direct path of the cutting edge or abrasive surface andrisking traumatic injury.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects oressential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summaryis not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of theclaimed subject matter.

One embodiment provides an ergonomic forceps tool for grippingosseous-based tissue during allograft processing. The ergonomic forcepstool may include a first forceps half pivotally coupled to a secondforceps half, the first and the second forceps halves combining to forma handle portion and a head portion, the handle portion defining a firstlongitudinal axis and the head portion defining a second longitudinalaxis that intersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle,wherein the first and the second halves move between an open position inwhich the first and the second forceps halves at the head portion areseparated and a closed position in which the first and the secondforceps halves at the head portion are together. The ergonomic forcepstool may also include a spring element attached between the first andthe second forceps halves, the spring element biased toward the openposition.

Another embodiment provides an ergonomic forceps tool kit for securingosseous-based tissue for processing operations. The kit may include (1)a number of forceps, each of the forceps comprising: (a) first andsecond pivotally coupled forceps halves, the first and the secondforceps halves combining to form a handle portion and a head portion,the head portion comprising first and second opposing jaws configured tomove between open and closed positions, wherein: (i) the handle portioncomprises a proximal end and a distal end and defines a firstlongitudinal axis and the head portion comprises a proximal end and adistal end and defines a second longitudinal axis that intersects thefirst longitudinal axis at a head angle; (ii) the head angle defines anoffset between the first longitudinal axis and the distal end of thehead portion; and (iii) the head angle and the offset vary for each ofthe number of the forceps. The kit may also include a number ofinterchangeable grips, each of the interchangeable grips comprising afinger portion and a thumb portion, the finger and the thumb portionssized to fit a particular hand size, wherein each of the interchangeablegrips is configured for removable installation upon the handle portionof any one of the number of the forceps.

Yet another embodiment provides a method of preparing an allograft fromosseous-based tissue using an ergonomic forceps tool kit. The kit mayinclude (1) a number of ergonomic forceps, each having a handle portiondefining a first longitudinal axis and a head portion having opposingfirst and second jaws that define a second longitudinal axis thatintersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle, wherein the headangle of each of the ergonomic forceps is different; and (2) a number ofinterchangeable grips, each adapted for removable installation upon thehandle portions of the number of the ergonomic forceps, wherein each ofthe interchangeable grips is configured to fit a different hand size.The method may include the steps of (a) based upon a correlation betweena configuration of the osseous-based tissue and the head angle of eachof the ergonomic forceps, selecting one of the number of the ergonomicforceps; (b) based upon a hand size of a user, selecting one of thenumber of the interchangeable grips; (c) removably installing theselected one of the number of the interchangeable grips upon the handleportion of the selected one of the number of the ergonomic forceps; and(d) compressing the handle portion of the selected one of the number ofthe ergonomic forceps to move the head portion from an open position inwhich the first and the second jaws a separated by a jaw opening widthto a closed position in which the first and the second jaws are securedabout the osseous-based tissue.

Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the technology willbe set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part willbecome more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing, or may be learned from practice of the technology.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention,including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to thefollowing figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrativeembodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of an ergonomicforceps tool for securely gripping osseous-based tissue during theperformance of processing operations on the tissue;

FIG. 1B illustrates a detail view of a first jaw of the ergonomicforceps tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the ergonomic forceps tool ofFIG. 1 in an open position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the ergonomic forceps tool ofFIG. 1 in a closed position;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top plan view of the ergonomic forceps tool of FIG.1 positioned adjacent to a cutting blade;

FIG. 5 provides a schematic depicting one embodiment of an ergonomicforceps tool kit; and

FIG. 6 provides a flowchart depicting an exemplary method of performingallograft processing operations using the ergonomic forceps tool kit ofFIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments are described more fully below in sufficient detail toenable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method.However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms andshould not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forthherein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense.

Various embodiments of the systems and methods described herein relateto the safe, efficient, and effective processing of osseous-basedallografts using an ergonomic, adjustable-grip forceps tool. Asdiscussed above in the Background section, existing hand tools are notdesigned with an eye toward the manipulation of human femoral heads andpresent several utility and safety challenges. First, existing toolslack a suitable jaw opening distance, appropriately-sized teeth, and anergonomic design necessary to grip non-uniform and asymmetrical osseoustissue securely and without causing tissue damage. The lack of anergonomic design in existing tools requires the operator to exert aconstant grip pressure, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries ordisorders caused when the operator manually compensates for the tool'sfailings. In addition, existing tools generally feature a straightdesign in which the head of the forceps tool is aligned with itshandles. During operation, the user's hand is positioned directly inline with the material being held, and, as a result, the user's hand isdirectly in line with any applicable cutting edge, rotating edge, orabrasive surface, risking traumatic injuries caused by operator contactwith the cutting/rotating edge or abrasive surface. Existing tools arealso universally sized, rendering them unwieldy for small hands and/oroperators with weak grip strengths.

Embodiments of the ergonomic forceps tool disclosed herein are designedto address the particular challenges presented in the osseous-basedallograft industry, with improved grip functionality that also allowsthe user to avoid the path of the blade, rotating edge, or abrasivesurface to avoid traumatic injuries when preparing osseous-basedallografts. Embodiments of the ergonomic forceps tool discussed belowalso provide a variety of interchangeable grips to better fit eachuser's hand and assist the user in exerting a constant grip pressurewhen the tool is in use to decrease the risk for musculoskeletal-relatedinjuries.

FIG. 1A illustrates an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of anergonomic forceps tool 10 for use in preparing osseous-based allografts.FIGS. 2-3 illustrate perspective views of the ergonomic forceps tool 10in an open position 12 and a closed position 14, respectively. In thisembodiment, the ergonomic forceps tool 10 may include a first forcepshalf 16 that is pivotally coupled with a second forceps half 18 via anyappropriate pivoting connector 20 such as, for example, a central pin.The pivoting connector 20 may separate a handle portion 22 of the tool10, which is configured for manual operation via a user's hand (e.g.,handle compression), and a head portion 24 of the tool 10, which mayfeature opposing first and second jaws 26, 28 configured to move betweenthe open position 12, in which the jaws 26, 28 are spread apart by a jawopening width (FIG. 2), and the closed position 14, in which the jawsare compressed together (FIG. 3) or secured or gripped about an elementof osseous-based tissue such as a human femoral head. The first and thesecond jaws 26, 28 may each include a number or rows ofinwardly-extending teeth 30, detailed in FIG. 1B. The teeth 30 may beconfigured in any appropriate manner or arrangement, including anyappropriate teeth length(s) and/or spacing between teeth 30 to achieveoptimal gripping and manipulation of osseous-based tissue. In oneembodiment, each tooth may have a length of approximately 3 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the handle portion 22 of the tool 10 may define afirst longitudinal axis A, while the first and the second jaws 26, 28 ofthe head portion 24 may define a second longitudinal axis B thatintersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle C. Varyingembodiments of the tool 10 may feature differing head angles C rangingfrom 30 to 90 degrees. This configuration, in which the jaws 26, 28 ofthe head portion 24 are angled away from the handle portion 22 asfurther detailed in the side view of FIG. 4, results in an offset O thatseparates a distal end 32 of the head portion 24 (i.e., where the headportion 24 meets a blade edge or abrasive surface 33 during processingoperations) from the longitudinal axis A of the handle portion 24 and auser's hand (not shown) during allograft preparation, thereby providinga safer use model that avoids probable contact with the cutting edge orabrasive surface in the event the user slips or jerks toward the bladeor abrasive surface.

A spring element 34 may extend between the first and the second forcepshalves 16, 18. The spring element 34 may be biased toward the openposition 12 of the head portion 24 (FIG. 2) and may provide an automaticcounterforce resisting the user's compression of the first and thesecond forceps halves 16, 18 of the handle portion 22 toward the closedposition 14 of the jaws 26, 28 (FIG. 3). In one embodiment, the springelement 34 may be formed of one or more spring steels extending betweenthe first forceps half 16 and the second forceps half 18. The springsteels may be attached to the forceps halves 16, 18 in any appropriatemanner (e.g., screws or other fasteners, precision welding, etc.).

To assist the user in exerting a constant grip or compression pressureagainst the osseous tissue gripped within the first and the second jaws26, 28 of the head portion 24, the forceps tool 10 may also include aselective locking mechanism 36. In this embodiment, the selectivelocking mechanism 36 may include a pivoting ratchet-based locking bar 38located at a distal end of the handle portion 22. The ratchet-basedlocking bar 38 may be rotatively coupled with the first forceps half 16via a pin or other appropriate rotative fastener and may include anumber of teeth or ridges 40 that form a number of grooves 42therebetween, where each of the grooves 42 is configured to receive orengage with a protrusion or pawl 44 protruding from a distal end of thesecond forceps half 18.

Together, the spring element 34 and the selective locking mechanism 36may assist the user in exerting a constant compression force or grippressure upon the handle portion 22, thereby maintaining the jaws 26, 28of the head portion 24 in the closed, engaged position 14 about theosseous tissue being gripped with a desired, constant amount of grippressure. Rather than maintaining the pressure manually throughout anallograft preparation procedure, the user may selectively engage thepawl 44 of the locking mechanism 36 with the appropriate ratchet groove42 to maintain the desired compression force. Once the selective lockingmechanism 36 is released, the counterforce spring element 34 maynaturally expel the forceps halves 16, 18, and thus the jaws 26, 28,into the open position 12, thereby reducing the risk ofmusculoskeletal-related repetitive motion injuries to the user.

While the selective locking mechanism 36 is described with a particularteeth/groove and pawl structure between the ratchet-based locking bar 38and the pawl 44, it should be understood that embodiments of theselective locking mechanism 36 may take any appropriate structure orconfiguration. The ratchet-and-pawl mechanism discussed above is simplyone exemplary mechanism for maintaining the forceps halves 16, 18 in thecompressed position.

The ergonomic forceps tool 10 may also include one or more pairs ofremovable and interchangeable grips 50, each having a finger portion 52adapted to envelop the first forceps half 16 and a thumb portion 54adapted to envelop the second forceps half 18. Both of the fingerportion 52 and the thumb portion 54 may be adapted for slidableinstallation upon and removal from the first and the second forcepshalves 16, 18, respectively. In one embodiment, one or both of the gripportions 52, 54 may include an access cutout 53 to accommodate featuresof the selective locking mechanism 36 of the handle portion 22. Becauseeach user has a unique hand size, the grip 50 may be customized for theuser's hand. In one embodiment, discussed below in relation to FIG. 5, anumber of grips 50 may be provided such that the user may select a pairof grips 50 that best fits his or her hand.

FIG. 5 provides a block diagram depicting one embodiment of a forcepstool kit 60. In this embodiment, the kit 60 may include a number offorceps tools 10 _(1-n), each having a different head angle (e.g., 70°,80°, 90°) and a number of pairs of grips 50 _(1-n), each pair configuredto accommodate a different hand size. In use, the user may select themost appropriate forceps tool 10 _(1-n) based on a particularconfiguration of the osseous-based tissue to be gripped, as well as thevarious angular cuts to be made to the tissue during allograftprocessing. Embodiments of the kit 60 may also include forceps 10 _(1-n)having different teeth sizes and/or spacing, various jaw opening widths,and/or various handle portion lengths and/or widths, as appropriate.

Once the appropriate forceps tool 10 _(1-n) has been selected, the usermay select an appropriate pair of grips 50 _(1-n) (or combination offinger grip 52 and thumb grip 54 portions) and manually install theselected grips 50 _(1-n) upon the handle portion 22 of the selectedforceps tool 10 _(1-n) before gripping the osseous tissue and beginningthe allograft preparation process. To streamline the selection process,both the tools 10 _(1-n) and/or the grips 50 _(1-n) may be color coded,numbered, or otherwise identified such that users learn to identifycertain colors with certain applications or with certain colors asrepresenting their “sizes” or preferences.

FIG. 6 provides a flowchart depicting an exemplary method (70) ofpreparing an allograft employing the forceps tool kit 60. To begin, theuser may select an appropriate forceps tool 10 _(1-n) (72) for thecurrent gripping/allograft preparation application (e.g., appropriatehead angle, jaw opening width, and/or teeth size and/or spacing) andselect an appropriate pair of grips 50 _(1-n) (74) comprising a desiredcombination of finger grip 52 and thumb grip 54 portions. Then the usermay manually and removably install the selected pair of grips 50 _(1-n)upon the selected ergonomic forceps tool 10 _(1-n) (76) before using theforceps tool 10 _(1-n) to secure the first and the second jaws 26, 28 ofthe head portion 24 of the forceps tool 10 _(1-n) about the targetosseous-based tissue (e.g., femoral head) (78) before performingprocessing operations (80) in a safe and effective manner in which theuser's hand is offset from the blade or abrasive surface 33 used inprocessing operations.

Embodiments of the ergonomic forceps tool may be constructed of surgicalstainless steel using a minimum number of parts to facilitate use,autoclave cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. Alternatively, the forcepstool may be formed of autoclavable plastics such as high-impactpolyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polysulfone (PS),polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polymethylpentene (PMP), polycarbonate(PC), PTFE Resin, and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Other embodimentsmay be formed of disposable plastics.

While the above discussion relates to using the forceps tool for thepurpose of gripping osseous tissue during the preparation ofosseous-based allografts, and the tool is ideally designed for usewithin human tissue banks in connection with human femoral heads, thetool is also suitable for and may be used to grip other osseous tissuesand/or other non-uniform or unevenly-sized materials such as, forexample, wooden dowels, plastic or metal piping, rock, and so on, aspart of other manufacturing processes that would benefit from securegripping and protection of the user's hands during processing.

Although the above embodiments have been described in language that isspecific to certain structures, elements, compositions, andmethodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology definedin the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specificstructures, elements, compositions and/or steps described. Rather, thespecific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing theclaimed technology. Since many embodiments of the technology can bepracticed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ergonomic forceps tool for grippingosseous-based tissue during allograft processing, comprising: a firstforceps half pivotally coupled to a second forceps half, the first andthe second forceps halves combining to form a handle portion and a headportion, the handle portion defining a first longitudinal axis and thehead portion defining a second longitudinal axis that intersects thefirst longitudinal axis at a head angle, wherein the first and thesecond halves move between an open position in which the first and thesecond forceps halves at the head portion are separated and a closedposition in which the first and the second forceps halves at the headportion are together; and a spring element attached between the firstand the second forceps halves, the spring element biased toward the openposition.
 2. The ergonomic forceps tool of claim 1, wherein the headangle is between 30 and 90 degrees.
 3. The ergonomic forceps tool ofclaim 1, wherein when the first and the second forceps halves are in theopen position, the head portion is disposable about a human femoralhead.
 4. The ergonomic forceps tool of claim 1, wherein: the headportion comprises opposing first and second jaws; and a number of teethprotrude inward from the first jaw toward the second jaw and from thesecond jaw toward the jaw.
 5. The ergonomic forceps tool of claim 4,wherein each of the teeth has a length of 3 mm.
 6. The ergonomic forcepstool of claim 1, further comprising: a first pair of interchangeablegrips for removable installation about the first and the second forcepshalves at the handle portion, the first pair of the interchangeablegrips configured to fit a first hand size; and a second pair ofinterchangeable grips for removable installation about the first and thesecond forceps halves at the handle portion, the second pair ofinterchangeable grips configured to fit a second hand size.
 7. Theergonomic forceps tool of claim 1, wherein the spring element comprisesat least one counterforce spring steel biased toward the open position.8. The ergonomic forceps tool of claim 7, further comprising a selectivelocking mechanism configured to selectively affix the first and thesecond forceps halves in a desired compressed position between theclosed position and the open position.
 9. The ergonomic forceps tool ofclaim 8, wherein the selective locking mechanism comprises ratchet-basedlocking bar configured to exert a constant grip pressure at the desiredcompressed position.
 10. The ergonomic forceps tool of claim 1, whereinthe forceps tool is formed of one or more of stainless steel andautoclavable plastic.
 11. An ergonomic forceps tool kit for securingosseous-based tissue for processing operations, comprising: a number offorceps, each of the forceps comprising: first and second pivotallycoupled forceps halves, the first and the second forceps halvescombining to form a handle portion and a head portion, the head portioncomprising first and second opposing jaws configured to move betweenopen and closed positions, wherein: the handle portion comprises aproximal end and a distal end and defines a first longitudinal axis andthe head portion comprises a proximal end and a distal end and defines asecond longitudinal axis that intersects the first longitudinal axis ata head angle; the head angle defines an offset between the firstlongitudinal axis and the distal end of the head portion; and the headangle and the offset vary for each of the number of the forceps; and anumber of interchangeable grips, each of the interchangeable gripscomprising a finger portion and a thumb portion, the finger and thethumb portions sized to fit a particular hand size, wherein each of theinterchangeable grips is configured for removable installation upon thehandle portion of any one of the number of the forceps.
 12. Theergonomic forceps tool kit of claim 11, wherein: when in the openposition, the first and the second jaws are spaced apart by a jawopening width; and the jaw opening width varies for each of the numberof the forceps.
 13. The ergonomic forceps tool kit of claim 11, wherein:each of the first and the second opposing jaws comprises a number ofinwardly-extending teeth; and a length of the inwardly-extending teethvaries for each of the number of the forceps.
 14. The ergonomic forcepstool kit of claim 11, wherein each of the forceps further comprises aspring element attached between the first and the second forceps halvesat the handle portion, the spring element biased toward the openposition.
 15. The ergonomic forceps tool kit of claim 14, wherein eachof the forceps further comprises a selective locking mechanismconfigured to secure the head portion in a desired compressed positionbetween the closed position and the open position such that the headportion applies a desired compressive force to a tissue portion securedbetween the first and the second jaws.
 16. The ergonomic forceps toolkit of claim 15, wherein the selective locking mechanism comprises aratchet-and-pawl mechanism.
 17. A method of preparing an allograft fromosseous-based tissue using an ergonomic forceps tool kit, the kitcomprising: a number of ergonomic forceps, each having a handle portiondefining a first longitudinal axis and a head portion having opposingfirst and second jaws that define a second longitudinal axis thatintersects the first longitudinal axis at a head angle, wherein the headangle of each of the ergonomic forceps is different; and a number ofinterchangeable grips, each adapted for removable installation upon thehandle portions of the number of the ergonomic forceps, wherein each ofthe interchangeable grips is configured to fit a different hand size,the method comprising: based upon a correlation between a configurationof the osseous-based tissue and the head angle of each of the ergonomicforceps, selecting one of the number of the ergonomic forceps; basedupon a hand size of a user, selecting one of the number of theinterchangeable grips; removably installing the selected one of thenumber of the interchangeable grips upon the handle portion of theselected one of the number of the ergonomic forceps; and compressing thehandle portion of the selected one of the number of the ergonomicforceps to move the head portion from an open position in which thefirst and the second jaws a separated by a jaw opening width to a closedposition in which the first and the second jaws are secured about theosseous-based tissue.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein theosseous-based tissue comprises a human femoral head.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, wherein: the first and the second jaws of the head portion ofeach of the ergonomic forceps comprise inwardly-extending teeth of adifferent length; and the open position of the first and the second jawsof the head portion of each of the ergonomic forces comprises adifferent jaw opening width.
 20. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising engaging a selective locking mechanism to maintain the firstand the second jaws of the selected one of the number of the ergonomicforceps in the closed position.